As a coach who typically would prefer that a rookie sit, wait, learn and earn his playing time in the NFL, Ken Whisenhunt has had to throw philosophy out the window.

Broken glass aside, he’s had little choice but to lean significantly on several first-year players as the Cardinals’ 2012-13 season continues to shatter around him.

When the team returns to action Sunday hoping to snap a six-game slide against the visiting St. Louis Rams, Whisenhunt conceivably could have as many as eight rookies seeing playing time, including at least four in starting roles on offense.

One of them, of course, will be quarterback Ryan Lindley, making his first NFL start. Lindley replaced John Skelton early in last week’s bumbling loss to the Falcons in which Arizona forced six turnovers and still couldn’t come out on top.

Whisenhunt already has been forced to start two first-year players, Bobby Massie and Nate Potter, at the starting tackle spots. Rookie wide receiver Michael Floyd should see plenty of time again, too, assuming he’s atoned a couple of gaffes in the Atlanta game.

Six of the team’s seven picks in this year’s draft, including defensive backs Jamell Fleming and Justin Bethel, all saw action against the Falcons. Undrafted free-agent linebacker Zach Nash even got into the game.

“You’d rather be a team like San Francisco that doesn’t even play any of their rookies, but sometimes that happens,” Whisenhunt said. “Guys got to step up. Hopefully, it makes us a better team in the long run.”

So maybe it wasn’t by design, but because of injuries and ineffectiveness, Whisenhunt really has had no choice.

“They don’t always play that many rookies around here. That’s what I had been told,” said Fleming, a third-round cornerback out of Oklahoma who has been getting regular rotation work in the team’s nickel and dime packages.

“Being able to come in and play a lot, though, I think it shows what this draft class is all about. I feel like they can count on us.”

That’s what Massie, the fourth-round pick from Mississippi, thinks, too.

“They drafted us to come in and play and that’s what we’re doing,” the 6-foot-6 right tackle said. “They had needs at the positions they drafted and they brought us in to fill it.”

Nobody, though, could have forecasted Lindley starting behind center 11 games into the season. Or that Potter, a seventh-round pick from Boise State, would be protecting his blind side at starting left tackle.

Clearly, Lindley wasn’t expecting this, not even after establishing a school record at San Diego State by starting in 49 consecutive games.

“I wasn’t too worried about it,” he said. “I’m not a big ego guy or a pride guy, so it wasn’t a shock to me that I was sitting on the bench or I was inactive in game one.”

But you know what they say about desperate times.

“As a rookie class, we’re trying to work hard to improve individually, and as a group,” Potter said. “I think it’s good we’re getting this experience.” We’re learning and getting better because of the coaches and the older guys who are mentoring us.”

Bethel, a sixth-round pick from tiny Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, credits fellow safeties Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes for furthering his quick development. So far, most of his playing time has been relegated to special teams, but his natural athleticism likely will lead to greater opportunities.

“We’re all here for a reason,” Fleming said. “That’s what I get out of it, with so many of us getting chances to play.”

The only rookie on the Cardinals’ roster yet to make his NFL debut is guard Senio Kelemete, a fifth-round pick from Washington. Barring a major surprise, he will be among those listed as inactive for a 12th straight game.

“Don’t even remind me, man,” Kelemete said. “I’m patiently waiting and I’m working. Good things happen to those who wait, though. Nate waited and he got his chance.

“I’ll get mine one of these days, too.”

If you’re a rookie for the Cardinals, there is a pretty good chance your number will be called.

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